Chip seal operations beginning on OR after July 1 in Putnam, Morgan, Owen, & Hendricks counties

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 6:05 AM

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces chip seal operations in Putnam, Morgan, Owen, and Hendricks counties. Beginning on or after Monday, July 1, through late July (weather permitting), crews will be working in the following locations:

State Road 236: From 1/4 mile east of S.R. 75 (near North Salem) to State Road 39 (northeast of Danville). State Road 243: From S.R. 42 to 1/4 mile south of I-70 near Cagles Mill Lake. State Road 42: From U.S. 231 (Cloverdale) to S.R. 142 (Eminence). State Road 142: From S.R. 42 (Eminence) to S.R. 39 (near Beech Grove.)

Crews will place message boards at each end of the project, to alert the traveling public. INDOT suggests finding alternative routes during the short duration of the chip sealing operation. In the event of weather delays, the schedule will be altered accordingly.

Work is completed under lane closures with flagging, or a full closure in several, if not all of these locations to prevent damage to both vehicles and the roadway. During operations, existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection. This extends the service life of the roadway and lowers maintenance costs. Once the seal coat is complete, loose aggregate is applied and swept from the road. After a curing period, crews will return to fog seal the new driving surface and apply pavement markings.

INDOT makes every effort to reduce vehicle damage during and immediately after chip seal projects. While these efforts may not prevent all damage to vehicles during the chip seal process, they have substantially reduced the likelihood of damage.

INDOT safety efforts include posting reduced speeds in work zones, closing roadways or lanes during chip seal projects, and sweeping the roadway during the process and after the project is complete to eliminate loose stones.